Rome, July 25, 2026 – Seven carabinieri injured, but the figure is not yet definitive, and two vehicles completely destroyed by flames. This is the toll of the unrest that broke out this afternoon in Val Susa, first at the Tav construction site in San Didero and then continued in **Chiomonte**, where clashes lasted over an hour during which masked protesters penetrated the construction site and threw stones, bolts, paper bombs, glass bottles and incendiary bottles against the police forces engaged in guarding the area, who repelled them with tear gas and water cannons. Overall, the provisional toll of law enforcement officers who had to seek medical attention is approximately 60 people.
While a group of over 500 hooded antagonists reached the **Chiomonte** construction site via paths, where a real guerrilla warfare began, officers responded with water cannons and tear gas. With their faces covered by gas masks and goggles, shields, helmets, and armed with any object that could be thrown at police, carabinieri, and financial police, the antagonists managed to enter the construction site, giving rise to over an hour of guerrilla warfare, until the police forces managed to repel them.
The political condemnation was clear. Sergio Mattarella called Interior Minister Piantedosi to express solidarity and gratitude to the police forces. On X, Prime Minister Meloni writes: “Those who throw paper bombs, set state vehicles on fire, and attack law enforcement are attacking the State. In Chiomonte, after what happened in Bologna in recent days, once again men and women in uniform have been the target of violence by hooded delinquents. Violence will not bend the State.” And Deputy Prime Minister Tajani speaks of “conniving left,” while Salvini calls for “a heavy hand with these criminals.”
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“I called the Chief of Police Vittorio Pisani, the General Commander of the Guardia di Finanza Andrea De Gennaro, and the General Commander of the Carabinieri Salvatore Luongo, to inquire about the conditions of the injured and to express solidarity with all the law enforcement forces attacked in Val di Susa. The Government is by their side.” This was written on X by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani.
Seven carabinieri injured, but the figure is not yet definitive, and two vehicles completely destroyed by flames. This is the toll of the unrest that broke out this afternoon in Val Susa, first at the Tav construction site in San Didero and then continued in Chiomonte, where clashes lasted over an hour during which masked protesters penetrated the construction site and threw stones, bolts, paper bombs, glass bottles, and incendiary bottles against the police forces engaged in guarding the area, who repelled them with tear gas and water cannons. Overall, the provisional toll of law enforcement officers who had to seek medical attention is approximately 60 people.
The number of Guardia di Finanza officers who had to seek medical attention following the clashes that occurred this afternoon at the Tav construction site in Chiomonte in Val di Susa has risen to 16. Meanwhile, the A32 Turin-Bardonecchia motorway, which had been closed this afternoon between the Oulx and Susa junctions due to the No Tav march promoted as part of the “Alta Felicità” festival taking place in Venaus until tomorrow, has been reopened.
“I stand in solidarity with the Police Forces who, with courage and professionalism, had to face a violent and inexcusable assault. It has been clear to everyone for some time now: the Tav is exclusively a pretext to perpetrate a systematic guerrilla strategy against the State. The condemnation must be unanimous, because winks at these squadrist fringes are no longer tolerable.” This was stated by Gilberto Pichetto, Minister of Environment and Energy Security.
“If anyone had underestimated it, what happened proves that there are those who consider violence a legitimate tool for political opposition and who identify law enforcement as the privileged target to strike. Probably also because they have understood that we will not back down on the defense of democracy. For this reason, a united, clear, and unambiguous stance from all political forces and institutions is needed.” This was stated by the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, commenting on the clashes in Val di Susa involving No Tav protesters. “Isolating those who fuel violence must be a shared duty, regardless of affiliation,” he continued. “Otherwise, these delinquents will convince themselves that they can enjoy complacency and shared support for their subversive violence.”
“Today in Val di Susa, a ferocious and violent mass of delinquents attacked the police forces who were only trying to defend the rules and laws of the State. It is unacceptable and intolerable. It was not a violent demonstration but a real armed guerrilla warfare that should be judged as such.” This was written on X by the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto.
The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella called the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi to ask him to convey his solidarity and thanks to the law enforcement officers for their action in service of the national community. The Head of State also expressed his closeness to the injured officers.
“Today in Val di Susa, the attacks on law enforcement were of unprecedented violence. Firecrackers, stones, bottles, and Molotov cocktails were thrown. Some colleagues were hit and risked their lives. Death was consciously and deliberately sought; it is attempted murder, and all present participated.” This was stated by the general secretary of Sap, Stefano Paoloni. “Violence must always be condemned, as must hatred towards those who wear a uniform. No distinctions are acceptable; whoever does not condemn clearly and unequivocally is an accomplice,” Paoloni added, expressing “solidarity and closeness to all injured colleagues and to all those who were engaged in service as they concretely risked their lives.”
“Heavy hand with these criminals!” This is what the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Transport, and leader of the League, Matteo Salvini, wrote on X in an all-caps post. The Deputy Prime Minister also posted two photos of the clashes in Val di Susa showing smoke, flames, and hooded people from behind.
“The antagonists managed to enter the Chiomonte construction site. The square in front of the tunnel was invaded by hundreds of violent individuals who initiated a real guerrilla action, setting fire to four service vehicles, two belonging to the carabinieri and two to the financial police. The number of injured among law enforcement officers is currently around 60, but the figure is still provisional and unfortunately is expected to worsen in the coming hours.” So said Domenico Pianese, general secretary of Coisp, regarding the clashes during the No Tav protest.
“Those who throw paper bombs, set state vehicles on fire, and attack law enforcement are not defending an idea; they are attacking the State.” This was stated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, commenting on the clashes at the Tav construction sites. “In Chiomonte, after what happened in Bologna in recent days, once again men and women in uniform have been the target of violence by hooded delinquents. My solidarity and that of the Government go out to them. Violence will not bend the State: those who serve Italy will never be left alone,” concluded the Prime Minister.
Traffic is severely slowed due to the presence of protesters on the line between Bussoleno and Borgone Susa of the Modane-Turin route. High-speed and regional trains may experience increased travel times of up to 120 minutes. Trenitalia announced this. Previously, circulation had been suspended between Bussoleno and Borgone Susa due to the No Tav demonstration in Val di Susa.
Not only was the A32 Turin-Bardonecchia motorway closed for “public order reasons” between the Oulx and Susa Est junctions, but trains on the Modane-Turin line were also suspended due to the unrest. Trenitalia reports that circulation is suspended between Bussoleno and Borgone Susa “due to the presence of protesters on the line”.
After over an hour, law enforcement forces repelled the assaults by the hardest core of the No Tav movement at the Turin-Lyon construction site in Chiomonte, Val di Susa, in the Turin area. The antagonists belonging to the so-called black bloc are retreating into the woods from where they had arrived via paths to attack the construction site. The situation is being monitored by law enforcement, and the attack is currently no longer ongoing. During the assaults, numerous incendiary bottles were reportedly used, something that hadn’t happened in a long time, in addition to stones, paper bombs, and rockets fired with homemade mortars. Also, it is understood that as the antagonists are retreating, they are shedding their dark clothes. During the assaults, some opened umbrellas in an attempt to avoid being identified by drones used by law enforcement to film what was happening.
“The guerrilla warfare unleashed by the No Tav against law enforcement, who once again defend the security of the State and citizens at the cost of their own safety, as well as the country’s growth through the construction of necessary infrastructure for the economy and territories, is shameful and unacceptable. Maximum solidarity to carabinieri, police officers, financial police, local police, and all servants of the State who have once again become targets in these hours. And all this in the deafening silence of a left that is increasingly tolerant, if not outright conniving, with hooligans, violent individuals, and subversive groups, from Bologna to Val di Susa.” This was stated by Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of Forza Italia.
“June 27 and July 3, 2011, after 15 years, we are still here. Many No Tav activists enter the Maddalena construction site. We are more numerous than on July 3.” This is what the Turin antagonist network of the Askatasuna social center, evicted last December in Turin, wrote on social media during the ongoing clashes in Chiomonte.
June 27 and July 3 are two symbolic dates for the No Tav movement: the first is when the Maddalena protest area was cleared by law enforcement to start the construction work. The second date, however, is when there was a day of violent clashes related to the attempt by the most extremist wing of the No Tav to block the start of the project.
Two carabinieri vans were set on fire during the ongoing assault on the Turin-Lyon construction site in Chiomonte, Val di Susa, in the Turin area. At the moment, it is unknown if there are any injuries. The antagonists are all dressed in black and wearing helmets and gas masks. Law enforcement forces are repelling the assaults from inside the construction site with tear gas and water cannons, while the antagonists are throwing bolts, stones, and bottles, and firing paper bombs and rockets, including with homemade mortars.
During the assaults, law enforcement vehicles were damaged and set on fire. A large group of hooded individuals dressed in black managed to enter an area of the Chiomonte construction site. They are throwing stones, paper bombs, and fireworks at police, carabinieri, and financial police units. Among the hooded individuals, it is understood that there were also foreigners, particularly French.
The Turin-Lyon construction site in Chiomonte, Val di Susa, was attacked on various fronts by several hundred antagonists. Paper bombs and stones were thrown, while law enforcement responded with tear gas and water cannons. A group of about a hundred masked individuals was blocked by police between two streams, while another larger group was stopped in Bruzolo, between San Didero and Bussoleno, to prevent them from reaching the construction site. The antagonists damaged some New Jersey barriers. The unrest is continuing. Meanwhile, the motorway concessionaire Sitaf announced that for public order reasons, it has closed the A32 Turin-Bardonecchia motorway between the Oulx and Susa Est junctions.
“Unacceptable. These are the poisoned and violent fruits of a left that for too long has fueled hatred and delegitimization against law enforcement and those who wear a uniform. Full solidarity with the officers.” This was written on X by the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of the League, Matteo Salvini.
Before the demonstration, slingshots, rockets, marbles, firecrackers, and fireworks were seized by law enforcement at Bardonecchia station. On the eve of the procession, the prefect of Turin, Donato Cafagna, had imposed limitations and prohibitions for reasons of security and public order, while the police chief, Massimo Gambino, had issued 14 measures, including urban Daspo orders and expulsion notices from Venaus.
A group of over five hundred hooded individuals belonging to the antagonist area gathered at the Mulini outpost. From there, via paths, they aim to reach the Chiomonte construction site in Val Clarea, which has been the focus of assaults by the most extremist wing of the No Tav movement, opposing the Turin-Lyon high-speed railway construction project for years.
Tensions shortly after the start of the No Tav march in Val di Susa: several hundred activists belonging to the most antagonistic and extremist wing of the movement threw stones and paper bombs at law enforcement forces deployed to protect the San Didero construction site. Officers responded with tear gas to disperse the antagonists. The tensions lasted about twenty minutes.
In view of the tenth edition of the ‘Alta Felicità’ Festival organized by the No Tav movement in Venaus, three French citizens who arrived in Piedmont were immediately expelled from the national territory for reasons of public order and security. In the car of the three, officers found smoke bombs, firecrackers, wire cutters, a flexible grinder powered by two batteries, shears, clothing and materials suitable for disguise, helmets, masks, glasses, cans and sprays, gasoline and other liquids, as well as numerous SIM cards separated from their respective mobile phones.
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